Timemore Chestnut C2 Grinder Review

3 different Timemore Chestnut C2 coffee grinders

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The Timemore Chestnut C2 is a hand grinder with a high-quality design that is created at an affordable price for the entry-level market.

At this pricing point, it is the most cost-effective solution for a home barista who wants to enhance their equipment without spending a lot of money.

Unboxing And Set Up

The C2 is packaged in a plain corrugated box with the outline of the burr grinder as the main design and Timemore’s logo at the bottom.

When you open the package, you’ll find the usual documentation such as a warranty card, instruction booklet, cleaning brush, and a cotton travel pouch for brewed coffee on the go.

Because the stainless-steel burr is already inserted, you won’t have to worry about this like other models.

The only thing you’ll have to do is set your grind adjustment because the grinder comes pre-assembled. The grind size is indicated in “clicks,” meaning that a courser grind is obtained by turning the knob to the left.

Pros

  • grind steps are changeable in 36 ways: A wide range of grind settings are available to accommodate all of your favorite coffee machines.
  • High-quality 38mm stainless steel Burr
  • Bearings on both sides: Ensure a more stable and smooth grinding experience.
  • Consistency is impressive: well above normal for this price category.
  • Excellent portability: The design is small and light.
  • The grinding mechanism is really rapid and very smooth.
  • At coarser settings, there is excellent consistency.
  • It’s easy to grip while grinding, and it’s a great deal.

Cons

  • No great for espresso: Although it can technically grind fine enough, it is not appropriate for espresso.
  • Other hand grinders have a little less plastic. The aluminum appears to be a little thinner. (This is due to the price, for the amount of money it costs I’m surprised it is made so well)
  • Adjustability: I wish the dial had some numbers on it so that I could easily return to previous settings.

Is the Timemore C2 Good/Build Quality/Design

The Timemore Chestnut C2 follows the basic design template for a hand grinder. However, it isn’t attempting to be too innovative, which is a good thing.

It has an anatomically formed handle that spins smoothly thanks to dual bearing stability, and it has a set of 38 mm steel burrs on the interior. We’ve seen this design before, and it works nicely since the outcome is a sturdy build quality.

This grinder is light compared to other models, weighing just over 1 pound (467 g). This is due to trimming the design down and adding hard plastic to some of its components.

The knurling (texture on the outside) allows for a comfortable grip that’ll feel great to people with larger or smaller hands.

I never had any slippage concerns when testing the grinder because the Chestnut C2’s diameter and ergonomics are already pretty comfortable even without the extra added grip.

It is available in a variety of color options, but the three you’ll see most of the time is black, white and dark brown.

The color of the handle knob and stabilizers is the only difference between dark and light colors. Therefore, I went with the all-black option.

I love the look, but this will be based on your personal preferences. Most other models have a typical stainless steel texture.

In addition to aesthetics. During the grinding process, it feels dependable, secure, and has a fantastic tactile sensation.

It has the feel of a high-end product. In addition, Timemore’s products are known for combining usefulness and beauty; we particularly like the Timemore Black Mirror Coffee Scale, which is both beautiful and useful.

What Materials Is It Made Out Of

The C2’s main body is aluminum alloy, while the burr is stainless steel.

The interior stabilizer, the adjustment knob, the handle knob, and the hopper lid are all made of PCTG plastic.

This stands for Poly – Cyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate Glycol. Now you know why I wrote PCTG. Don’t even think about asking me to pronounce it.

PCTG is a high density resin that durable and long-lasting, which helps to reduce the grinder’s total weight and, of course, cost. As a result, it can have a low and appealing price.

Although this may be a disadvantage for some, the grinder is durable and aesthetically pleasing.

In addition, the stainless steel parts are basically unbreakable unless dropped or thrown with excessive force.

When they decided to make the Timemore chestnut C2 a budget-friendly model, some changes had to be made, the most visible of which is the higher use of plastic.

Are The Burr’s Made Well

The c2 has a 38 mm stainless steel conical burr set, dual bearings, and a full grind range, all of which are often found in more expensive burr grinders.

The burr set is more aggressive and sharper than the ceramic burrs. In addition, dual bearings guarantee fluidity and consistency. These factors contribute to the Chestnut C2’s ability to produce more consistent coffee grounds and improved grinding efficiency.

When I initially started using the grinder, I was taken aback by how quickly it worked. It’s quite apparent, and it’s not something I expected.

when you examine the burrs, you notice they have a distinct geometry that accounts for their effectiveness. First, the burrs are larger to grip the beans. Second, the inside of the grinder funnels the beans to help the feeding mechanism.

You can almost obtain 1 gram per second using either medium-fine grinds for drip coffee makers, Moka pot, or coarser settings for the French press or the 4:6 approach.

However, you’re closer to 0,7-0,5 grams per second on finer settings, which is still quite acceptable.

Grind Adjustment For Different Brewing Methods

The grind adjustment on Timemore is made with a ‘click’ system. The dots represent the size options, and you can alter it by rotating the adjustment knob to coarser or finer.

I wish there was a letter or number system so that you could easily remember your favorite settings but this isn’t a deal breaker by any means.

To begin, set the grinder to its highest setting by twisting the knob all the way clockwise until it can no longer be twisted. Then, count the clicks as you progress farther from the starting point.

According to Timemore’s documentation, below are some official configuration ideas. So you can start there and experiment until you reach your taste preferences.

  • 25-27 clicks for a French press
  • 10-14 clicks for espresso
  • 15-19 clicks for drip coffee
  • 18-24 clicks for pour over

A quick tip: You have to close the lid before setting the grind size, or the gears won’t turn.

picture of 3 different grind sizes that we  tested during our timemore chestnut c2 review

Are The Grinds Consistently The Same Size

The most important question you need to ask about a hand grinder is how it performs in particle distribution (grind size).

Again, it performs admirably and is far superior to what you would expect for the price. Unfortunately, it isn’t quite at the top because it still creates a significant amount of fines. You can, however, make delicious coffee with it.

It will work with everything from a Moka pot and an Aeropress to a pour-over.

What Is The Capacity

About 25 grams of coffee are stored in a grounds container at the bottom. It can only be used for one cup at a time.

This is not a tool to be used to entertain parties, one or two people have a couple coffee’s is perfect. Anything more than that and you will probably wish you had a manual grinder with a larger capacity.

Is It Portable

One of the first things you’ll notice is how lightweight the hand grinder is. The Chestnut C2 is only 435 grams in total weight.

160mm x 60mm are the dimensions. It’s tiny enough to fit into a travel bag and take camping or vacationing.

However, the crank handle is permanently attached which can make it a littler annoying if you want to use it as a travel grinder. That’s a minor point that will either irritate you or you won’t .

How Do You Clean The Timemore Chestnut C2

It simply takes a few minutes once a month to keep your grinder in top shape so it doesn’t contaminate your coffee and performs at its best.

Oils and tiny particles are deposited on the burrs while coffee beans are processed. As they collect on your burrs, overtime they will affect the flavor of your coffee.

If the burrs have a light layer of dust on them when you open them, you’re not receiving the quality coffee you deserve. If there’s a thick coating of grime on the floor, you haven’t been there in a long time.

Begin by dismantling the grinder. Make sure you’re working on a flat surface. A white towel can be placed under the grinder to make the components visible and prevent them from being lost.

Remove the handle, hopper lid, and ground catcher first. The primary shell and the burr are all that’s left.

Pull out the inner burr after unwinding the adjustment knob and setting it aside. The centerpiece of the inner burr can also be removed.

From the other end, remove the washer, spring, plastic washer, and the rod. You now have a completely dismantled hand grinder on your hands.

You may now thoroughly clean everything.

In most cases, all that is required is a thorough cleaning of the handle and hopper lid. These components only require a light cleaning. Also, scrub the grind catcher since this will collect a film overtime.

Get a bowl of soapy water and a Q Tip to clean the burrs and other small pieces.

I don’t recommend cleaning any part of the grinder in the dishwasher. Finding the smaller bits would be a challenge if they moved around. Just use a moderate handwashing method.

When you’ve finished washing each item, give it a fast and thorough rinse before drying it well with a clean rag. When putting the grinder together, you don’t want any extra moisture or little food particles lingering around.

Fresh espresso coffee brewing through the bottomless portafilter in a white ceramic cup in artisan cafe shop. Vintage professional coffee machine, front view in center, mirrored background

Are Hand Grinders Good For Espresso

If you’re addicted to espresso like me this hand grinder isn’t for you. It has an espresso setting, but it doesn’t produce fine enough grounds every time to make sure your shots aren’t under-extracted.

Also, if you typically prepare more than 2 cups of coffee, the limited capacity may be an issue.

Timemore states in the handbook that it also includes espresso settings, which it does, but I wouldn’t use it for that.

You’re better off using it for drip coffee, pour-over, French press, or cold brews, no matter what the Chestnut C2 manual says.

Because the range is so limited, dialing in shots will be difficult. Furthermore, the burr’s shape implies that it doesn’t have much traction in the specific region, thus grinding a regular espresso dose takes an eternity.

Timemore Vs Comandante

These are both high-quality hand grinders capable of brewing exceptional coffee due to their premium quality grind results.

The biggest difference is the oftentimes; premium grinds come with a heftier price tag with the Comandante rather than the Timemore.

The comandante is hundreds of dollars and is one of the best manual grinders on the market.

The size disparity is the first thing that stands out. Timemore is smaller and thinner, resulting in lesser volume — Timemore has roughly 28-32 grams of beans, while Comandante contains around 40-44 grams.

Both grinders are made well. Timemore’s outer casing is aluminum, with a plastic grind container, a wooden handle, and stainless steel conical burrs.

Comandante is composed of stainless steel and has a thin layer of bamboo veneer on top, which comes in various colors.

It includes a wooden handle and a glass jar that acts as a container for ground coffee. In addition, it has stainless steel burrs that are strengthened with nitrogen. It also has more plastic components than the Timemore grinder, such as the knob that controls grinding adjustments and the axle bush.

Do They Both Grind Consistently

By using a Kruve Grind ruler, both grinders faired the same in consistency. So you are splitting hairs if you try and say one is better than the other.

Aside from the fact that the coffee ground with Timemore appeared to be a little over-extracted. In any case, both manual grinders performed their job and provided us with a delicious cup of black filter coffee.

Both have the same high-quality burrs for making coarse grinds for a French press or fine grinds for a specialty coffee.

Which Grinder Should You Pick

Timemore

Timemore is for individuals who are just getting started with coffee and are aware that good, reliable equipment is required to make a nice cup of coffee.

It’s also for individuals who have some coffee experience and want to take their ceramic burr manual grinder to the next level with stainless steel burrs that will deliver excellent grinding and, most importantly, excellent brew.

My review of the Timemore Chestnut C2 has allowed me to brew coffee during camping trips, at work, and while I sat on my porch, every cup was delicious. I would recommend this to any entry or intermediate home barista.

Comandante

As far as other premium hand grinders go, the Comandante is for home baristas that have been practicing their skills for a while and enjoy utilizing various brewing methods.

It’s also for individuals who don’t only want to start their day with a cup of coffee but who want to get a little more creative and want a grinder that will enable them to experiment while brewing their perfectly balanced brew.

The comandante is made exceptionally well and gives you exact control over the smallest changes in grind size but unless you have a large budget you will have a hard time buying it.

Both grinders are functional and attractive, and they will prove to be a wise investment. It’s now up to you to pick which one exceeds your expectations the most!

Timemore Product Options

Timemore has a variety of premium hand grinders to pick from if you’re looking for a high-quality grinder. Continue reading to learn more about the differences and how to choose the best solution for your hand grinding needs:

Timemore Chestnut G1

Timemore’s original model, the Chestnut G1, won the Reddot Design Award in 2017.

The G1 is extremely comparable to the top-of-the-line X, with its stunning wood and aluminum body. However, this model does not have the same fine grind range options as the previous model. It does, however, offer the same outstanding grind quality that we’ve come to expect from Timemore.

Timemore Chestnut X

The Chestnut X is the company’s award-winning top-of-the-line grinder, introduced after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Patented burrs and a collapsible handle are among the features of this one-of-a-kind design.

The design of the burrs allows for very-fine adjustments. However, as their flagship model, it comes with a hefty price tag.

Timemore Chestnut Nano

This is made for people who travel or go camping a lot.

It has the same diameter as the Slim, but it’s 2” shorter. It holds significantly less than the Slim or G1/Chestnut C2 due to its diminutive size. As a result, it’s only suitable for single-person use.

Timemore Chestnut Slim

This was designed with a 1/4″ thinner body, making it very portable. However, to make it skinnier, they had to make it 1″ taller.

However, because it may fit within other goods in your luggage, it makes it easy to transfer. The capacity also became smaller going from 30g to only 20g

Again, this was done to make it easier to travel with.

Conclusion: Timemore Chestnut C2 Review

I believe the Chestnut C2 will be quite popular. No other manual grinder has the design or function for this price point.

The grinder’s size appeals to me, and I believe it will also appeal to folks with smaller hands. Also, I like how quick it is. It’s difficult to grind coffee when you’re depleted of caffeine, so this is a big plus.

If you’re thinking about obtaining a Hario or Porlex grinder, you should strongly consider upgrading your budget and getting this instead.

I’m a huge espresso guy, so it did falter in this category but excelled in every other brewing test I put it through.